Today we will introduce you to a cactus of the agave family, which naturally grows in the arid mountains of Mexico. This is American Agave. In a wild form, it is found in North Africa, Southern Europe, in southeast Asia. We will try to talk about what an American agave is. And we will also consider its use in folk and traditional medicine, which (we are sure of this) will seem interesting to many.
Description of the plant
This perennial is a herbaceous plant with bluish-green large, thick, succulent leaves that gather in a rosette. At first glance, American agave is very similar to aloe. But if you look closely, you will see that her leaves are much wider.
American agave is a monocarpic plant. This is the name of plant species that bear fruit and bloom once in their long life, after which they die. American agave has a well-developed, fairly powerful root system. Both in natural conditions and with artificial cultivation in the ground, it lives 10-15 years. If the plant is a tub culture anddevelops indoors and greenhouses, then its life span reaches twenty, and in some cases thirty years.
In the last year of its life, the plant expels from the center of the rosette a flower arrow that has no leaves, up to eight meters long. It is crowned with a huge panicle inflorescence, in which there are several thousand yellowish flowers. They are large, 9 cm long. The flower has a six-membered, corolla-shaped perianth with six stamens and a pistil.
The American agave flower in the Russian climate blooms at the end of May. This process takes about three weeks.
Agave is propagated by seeds and root shoots. At a temperature of 25 ° C, the seeds will germinate in 7 days. The plant loves light, this must be taken into account when breeding a flower at home.
The birthplace of the agave is Mexico. Under natural conditions, plants reach a height of 10 meters and 4 meters in diameter. In our country, agave in the open field can be found in the Crimea, and in other regions it is grown as a houseplant. The fleshy, juicy leaves of the American agave contain essential oils, resins and aloins.
Application
Today, folk healers (as well as representatives of traditional medicine) are well aware of agave. Description, application of its medicinal properties can be found in many phytotherapeutic and medical reference books.
Medicines from agave have a laxative effect on the human body. The laxative effect, as a rule, occurs 10-12 hours after taking the drug. ExceptIn addition, medicines based on agave have anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, and antipyretic effects. Such funds disinfect, remove excess fluid from the body, accelerate metabolism, normalize the activity of the gastrointestinal tract and gallbladder. Cut agave leaves can be used as compresses for boils, wounds and sciatica.
American agave: treatment
For internal use, cut agave leaves are crushed and insisted on water. It is done like this. Cut off a medium-sized leaf from the agave, chop it and pour it with a glass of water. After six hours, strain the composition through cheesecloth. As a laxative, take one tablespoon (preferably before meals) three times daily.
Improve appetite
Everyone who suffers from lack of appetite can try freshly squeezed agave juice from leaves. It should be taken in 5-10 ml doses approximately 30 minutes before meals.
Treatment of the digestive tract
Agave juice is successfully used as an additional remedy in the treatment of stomach ulcers, chronic gastritis accompanied by persistent constipation, conditions after dysentery, as a means of increasing the body's resistance to various infections. It is worth warning our readers: do not self-medicate! Seek advice from your doctor before taking juice.
Liver treatment
Powder is used for this. Grind and dry the agave leaf, air dry,but in a shady place. Then crush and sift it. Take 0.2 g (on the tip of a knife) three times a day.
Abscesses and inflammations
When the American agave reaches the age of three years, it can be applied fresh externally in the form of compresses for inflammation of the sciatic nerve, abscesses, wounds that do not heal for a long time. To do this, cut the sheet, cut it lengthwise, attach it to the sore spot with the inside.
It should be noted that sometimes when treating sciatica with agave leaves, some patients with very sensitive skin experience intense heat and even pain. Doctors say that you should not be afraid of such a reaction, but it is better to stop treatment and consult a doctor in case of discomfort.
Burns, eye diseases
For burns, inflammation of the eyes, and even with incipient cataracts, non-healing wounds and ulcers, agave leaf juice is used in the form of lotions. It is made from juice diluted with boiled water in a ratio of 1:10.
Treatment of skin diseases
For the prevention and treatment of skin pathologies, anemia and radiation sickness, an emulsion of agave juice is used. Make an infusion on castor or eucalyptus oils, keep it for 12 days in the dark at a temperature of +8 degrees. The composition is applied to the damaged areas of the skin three times a day with a thin layer. Can be used as compresses.
American agave: home care
If you decide to grow this perennial at home, then first of all pickwell-lit, sunny place for a flower. Agave responds well to sunlight. In the room where the plant will live, there should be a temperature within + 18 … + 28 degrees. In summer, the flower can be planted in open ground. But remember that temperatures below +10 degrees are fatal for this plant.
Irrigation
This undemanding plant is the American agave. Caring for her comes down to fairly rare watering and periodic top dressing with nutrients.
Agave should not be watered very often. One, maximum two times a week will be enough for her. In winter, experienced flower growers recommend reducing watering to once a month. Water standing in a pot can cause root rot and plant death. Make sure that no moisture enters the center of the socket during watering.
Diseases and treatment of agave
In spring, the flower can be fed with cactus mixtures containing a small amount of nitrogen. In winter, rid the plant of all fertilizers.
If the agave is sick or attacked by pests, take emergency measures, you can’t hesitate, because your flower can die very quickly.
If he was struck by scale insects, thrips, treat the succulent with alcohol, vodka or beer. Such a folk method of treatment gives a good result, but only the Actellik solution will save the agave if the lesion has become massive. For prevention, wipe the leaves with water with the addition ofgarlic or soapy water.
Contraindications
We repeat: American agave-based preparations are not recommended to be taken without consulting a doctor.
Applying ointments or compresses externally can cause an allergic reaction in some people or inflammation of the skin area where the plant was applied.
